AYG: Nigeria U-15 Boys Emerge Champions Of Africa

Nigeria ones again confirmed its status as the giant of Africa in football when its National U-15 boys secured the gold medal of the football event with a 3-1 victory over Swaziland at the Africa Youth games in Gaborone, Botswana on Friday.

The U-15 boys who needed just a draw to secure what is widely referred to as the most prestigious medal of the games, went all out against their Southern African opponent and goals from Nasifi Yahaya, Ali Musa and Young Elisha ensured that Nigeria topped the six team table with 10 points while Tanzania and Mali picked up the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Nigeria did not just win the gold medal, the boys were impressive all through as they conceded just once and scored ten times in five matches.

The team defeated host Botswana 2-0 in their first game, drew 0-0 with Mali, beat South Africa 3-0, defeated Tanzania 2-0 and completed the football event with a 3-1 win over Swaziland in the last game played at the University of Botswana football pitch.

The coach of the team, Danladi Nasidi attributed the success to the one month camping exercise which they enjoyed before the tournament.
“I’m a happy man today and I must say the one month camping exercise we had in Abuja before the tournament really helped us.”

According to the tournament format, all six teams that participated in the football event engaged each other in a round-robin format, the best placed team on the table went home with the gold medal while the second and third placed teams won silver and bronze respectively.

Following the late withdrawals from DR Congo and Gabon, there were six teams left to participate in the football event of the African Youth Games, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Mali.

The 2nd African Youth Games climaxes Today, the event involves around 2,500 athletes from 54 countries for ten days of competition.

Athletes are competing across 21 sports – athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, football, golf, judo, karate, netball, rowing, rugby, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball and weightlifting.

Aimed at athletes aged 14 to 18, the Games tries to offer African athletes a platform to prepare for the Youth Olympic Games.

Nigeria Under 15 boys

Africa Youth Games: Nigeria opens with victory

The Nigeria National U-15 team on Thursday defeated host Botswana 2-0 in the opening game of the football event at the 2014 Africa Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana.

Two strikes from supporting striker Nasifi Yahaya, in the 4th and 90th minutes of the game ensured that the coach Danladi Nasidi led side silenced the huge crowed at the Botswana National stadium.

Assistant coach of the Nigeria team, Haruna Ilerika in a telephone conversation with team’s media officer Bunmi Haruna revealed that his team would not relent in their effort to win gold.

“Between you and me, Bunmi, Nigeria can win this tournament”o

In the other match of the day, Swaziland held South Africa to a 3-3 draw.

In a change of tournament format, all six teams participating in the football event will engage each other in a round-robin format, the two best placed teams on the table will then play each other in the final to determine who takes gold.

Six teams, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Mali registered for the football event of the 2014 Africa Youth Games, DR Congo and Gabon pulled out.

Nigeria’s next game will be against Mali on Friday.

Sports Commission DG and Coach Of Cameroon’s Womens National team hail Nigeria’s U-15 Boys team

The Nigeria National U-15 team on Monday morning continued their build-up for the Africa Youth Games, Botswana 2014 with a 4-1 thrashing of Dream Land Football Academy, Abia State in a match played at the FIFA Goal Project Centre of the Abuja National Stadium.

Gidado Toheeb, Alli Musa,Nazifi Yahaya and Adamu Muhammed all produced a goal each for the national team, while goalkeeper Ona Chinedu and Simon Akpor both distinguished themselves for the Abia state based team and earned invitations to join the National U-15 boys.

“We will continue to work on our team, especially the tactical aspect of the game and I’m sure these boys will be ready for the Botswana games.” National U-15 team coach, Danladi Nasidi disclosed after the game.

The game against Dream Land Football Academy is the fourth in the series of friendly games played so for by the National U-15 boys.

The Dalandi Nasidi led side had earlier defeated the Super Falcons 1-0, AB Football Academy, Jos 9-0 and Hearts Academy, Kano 2-1, all matches were played at the FIFA Goal Project Center of the Abuja National in Abuja.

Meanwhile the Director General, National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, who has been a regular visitor to training games of the U-15 boys, has demanded total concentration ahead of the AYG games.

“I’m so proud of you boys because I have seen a lot of improvement in your games since you came to camp two weeks ago, but please don’t be carried away.” The DG advised.

Coach of the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, Enow Ngachu, has praised the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF for setting up an U-15 youth development programme and hoped his country can emulate Nigeria.

“I’m so impressed with this programme, the boys are young and skillful and this is what Africa should be doing, we must start this in Cameroon.” Enow Ngachu said before his girls lost 1-0 to Super Falcons of Nigeria in a test match in Abuja.

The Cameroonian girls also scrambled for photographs with the Nigeria U-15 boys, especially, with Musa Alli from Lagos state, whom they described as little Messi.

The U-15 boys are preparing for the maiden edition of the Africa Youth Games which will be hosted by Botswana from the 22nd of May, 2014.

FALCONS MUST WORK HARD TO RECLAIM AWC TITLE – Danladi Nasidi

Former coach of Super Falcons Danladi Nasidi has said that the former Africa champions must double their efforts if they hope to regain the title they lost two years ago in Equatorial Guinea

Nasidi who was in the 1998 cup winning team in Warri expressed joy at seeing new crop of players in the Falcons but advised that the girls should remain focus and show total commitment if they are to win the next Africa Women Championship (AWC) trophy .

“I am happy to see these new crop of players and I hope they will blend like the kind of team we had in 1998,1999 and year 2000. With time and proper preparation these girls will restore the glory days back to Super Falcons. They should put pride aside so that they can achieve their purpose and Nigerians will be proud of them” he said

The head coach of the national U-15 boys, Nasidi said as the team prepares to play Rwanda in the AWC qualifiers, they should not be complacent stressing that if the coaches select the right players to do the job he does not see any opposition that will stop the Falcons from qualifing and doing well at the AWC in Namibia.

Asked if he would like to return to women football, he said that depends solely on NFF adding that experience should not be ruled out when some of the selections are being made.